The climate crisis is defined as the 21st century global challenge, the biggest threat of our time, demanding urgent and effective solutions. Many argue that technological innovations can lead the way in mitigating climate change, offering practical solutions to climate induced disasters, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and fostering sustainable development. However, while technology plays a crucial role, it comes with many restrains: political will, economic considerations, and societal behaviour must align for a comprehensive solution. Furthermore, green technologies can certainly relief the lives of global citizens, but they cannot be considered the ultimate solution.
Innovations in renewable energy, carbon capture, and sustainable agriculture have made significant strides in reducing environmental impact. Solar, wind, hydrological, and geothermal power have become more efficient and cost-effective, challenging the dominance of fossil fuels. Similarly, carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies offer the potential to reduce emissions from industrial processes, while research on lab-grown food is leading to a more and more valid alternative to classic agricultural methods.
As for the water crisis, for example, green technologies have developed rapidly, offering reliable solutions to sustain population’s needs: desalinated water, sanitation of wastewater, and cloud seeding are some of the new innovations of the 21st century, which are leading champions in the fight against climate-induced droughts and related water scarcity. One of these advanced solutions is the use of thermal desalination plants, which dissolve salts from seawater, making it good for domestic usage. Only second to Saudi Arabia, the UAE has the highest desalination capacity globally. Indeed, the country has implemented 70 major desalination plants which cover 42% of the total water supply of the country, and connecting them to renewable energies such as solar panels to reduce national consumption (UAE, 2024).
The UAE is also one of the first countries to implement cloud seeding and artificial rainmaking in the MENA region: the UAE Rain Enhancement Program (UAEREP) emerged as an initiative to improve water security. The project started in 1990 with the collaboration of the US Space Agency, NASA, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado and it consists of seeding agents which are implanted into clouds to stimulate the condensation process and enhance precipitation (UAE, 2024).
Despite these advancements, relying solely on technology to solve the climate crisis is insufficient. Many emerging solutions require large-scale infrastructure, substantial investment, and global cooperation. For instance, cloud seeding operations cost around 550,000$: the UAE government can count on its high revenue income to take advantage of these technological and scientific discoveries, but it is clear that most developing countries are unable to cope with such a cost to solve hydrological crises (UAE Station, 2020). Indeed, countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Israel, for example, can count not only on their high revenue to enforce sophisticated water irrigation systems, desalination plants, and cloud seedings, but also on a strong and stable political system that addresses specifically the water crisis. All these green technologies therefore result in being exclusive for hegemonic states and not accessible for low- and middle-income ones.
Not to consider that all those technological innovations offer short-term solutions: over-reliance on technology can create a false sense of security, as it does solve momentaneously the crises, however on the long-term it will not be able to cope with severe and prolonged natural disasters. Global governments needs to implement strict environmental regulations, cut carbon emissions, and find rely on alternative energies than fossil fuel, while supporting developing countries to deal with the climate change crisis through green technologies that they could normally not be able to afford.
While technological innovations provide essential tools and help deal with climate change, they remain an exclusive alternative to which only high-revenue countries can get, considering also that their inability to solve the crises. For that, climate change requires a collective effort that integrates science, policy, and public engagement. Only by combining these elements, supported by the fast advancement of technological solutions, can we create a sustainable future and effectively address the growing climate emergency.
Resources:
- UAE (2024, May 9) Water, UAE, https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/environment and-energy/water-and-energy/water
- UAE Station (2020, September 27) Water in the UAE. Where do they get it and how is it purified?, UAE Station, https://uaestation.com/water-in-the-uae-where-do-they-get-it-and-how-it-is purified
By The European Institute for International Relations
